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We can be a ‘clinic’ for Liverpool bad boy, says club president

Newly promoted Serie A side Crotone are apparently looking at the possibility of bringing resident bad boy Mario Balotelli in this summer, with club president Rafaele Vrenna suggesting that Crotone could act as a rehabilitation clinic for the Italian striker, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Balotelli was unquestionably a failed gamble by Brendan Rodgers, and seems unlikely to ever make the grade at Liverpool. He was ineffective during his time at the club, and after a unmemorable season on loan with AC Milan he looks a little lost.

He’s almost certainly going to be making a step down to a significantly smaller club, and Vrenna seems to believe that Crotone is the place he needs to be.

“How did the idea of wanting Balotelli come about? Because we have revived many players who then went back to the highest levels,” he said.

“Just look at the the Euros where there are six players who use to play for Crotone. We could be a sort of clinic for help.”

While we’re no doubt desperate to get Balotelli off our books, a move to Crotone seems unlikely. They are minnows in the Italian top flight, and despite the 26-year-old’s poor form he’s unlikely to be willing to accept such a huge drop in his career.

He’s still a Liverpool player and we will want to recoup at least some of the transfer fee forked out for him, which Crotone would probably struggle to afford. They also might find his wages a stumbling block, although if Balotelli wants to resurrect his career he might have to start from the bottom again.